Unrealistic Beauty Standards

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Courtney Brondum
SOCL 2211-002
Professor Thomas
17 February, 2017

Does Social Media set unrealistic beauty standards for young women in America who participate in these networks such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter?

What percentage of young women in America who participate in online networking, feel that the beauty standards set by social media are unrealistic or destructive to their self esteem?

Being a woman in this crazy world we live in today, we are often reminded of the constant how media is shaping today's youth. Young adults everywhere are becoming so indulged and engaged on the online world, known as social networking. Social networking sites (such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc) make it possible to connect and …show more content…
However, I also believe that some companies are confronting these issues with body positivity campaigns. For example, Aerie, Dove, and Dear Kate are a few of the companies acknowledging the problem of idealized beauty images in the media. In fact, "82 percent of women feel the beauty standards set by social media are unrealistic," according to the Dove study. And "almost three quarters of women believe social media comments critiquing women's beauty are destructive to their self-esteem." Dove launched a campaign called ‘Speak Beautiful’, which encourages women to "realize the role our online words play in impacting our confidence and self-esteem." Body image problems will likely never disappear completely, but I believe that if companies and individuals can take small steps in the right direction, we can make a …show more content…
What can we do to fix this problem?

N.A. (2014). Social networking fact sheet. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social-networking-fact-sheet/

Lenhart, A. (2015). Teens, social media & technology overview 2015. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/

Prieler, M. & Choi, J. (2014). Broadening the scope of social media effect research on body image concerns. Vogel, A (2015). Social media and body image: A complicated relationship. http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/social-media-and-body-image-a-complicated-relationship

Knobloch-Westerwick, S. (2015). Thinspiration: Self-Improvement versus self-evaluation social comparisons with thin-ideal media portrayals.

Eisend, M., & Jana Möller. (2007). The influence of TV viewing on consumers' body images and related consumption behavior. Marketing Letters

Weiner, Jess. & Claire Mysko. Dove Global Self-Esteem Expert.“Positive Body Confidence- How social media can affect body image.”

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